title: [A comparative study of the effectiveness of topiramate and flunarizine in independent series of chronic migraine patients without medication abuse].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topiramate and onabotulinumtoxin A have proven to be effective in chronic migraine with or without medication abuse according to recent criteria of the International Headache Society's Headache Classification.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To show that flunarizine is as effective as topiramate in cases of chronic migraine without medication abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective, non-randomised, comparative study of two groups of patients paired by age and sex, with chronic migraine without abuse, who had been treated preventively for the first time with topiramate or flunarizine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients treated with flunarizine were assigned a patient of their same sex and age who was being treated with topiramate. The mean rate of reduction in intense migraines in the topiramate group was 59% and in the flunarizine group, 58.5% (p = 0.9444); the responder rate at four months of treatment did not show any significant differences either, the figures being 75% for topiramate and 70% for flunarizine (p = 0.6236). The mean reduction of other headaches in the topiramate group was 57% and in the flunarizine group, 64% (p = 0.4261); the responder rate at four months of treatment was similar in the two groups: 76%. The percentage of dropouts from treatment was higher with topiramate (19.5%) than with flunarizine (10%) (p = 0.3493). No serious side effects occurred in either of the groups. In all, 78.9% of the patients who took topiramate said they were satisfied with the drug versus 75% of those in the flunarizine group (p = 0.7903).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flunarizine proved to be as effective as topiramate in the treatment of chronic migraine without medication abuse.
authors.affiliation: HUMS. Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, 50009 Zaragoza, Espana.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gracia-Naya
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: García-Gomara
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Valiente
authors.forename: José Ángel
authors.initials: JÁ
authors.lastname: Mauri-Llerda
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santos-Lasaosa
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Artal-Roy
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Latorre-Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077236:Topiramate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D005444:Flunarizine